Pitt ships money north for RG Tanna Coal Terminal

COAL companies are shipping more of the black dust out of Gladstone Harbour than ever before and to keep up, the Queensland Government has given $44.1 million to upgrade the RG Tanna Coal Terminal.

This upgrade is the second largest allocation of money to Gladstone in the state budget announced today and is part of an $823.2 million infrastructure spend in the Fitzroy region.

The largest allocation is the $60 million Calliope State High School that was announced by premier Annastacia Palaszczuk when she was in Gladstone for the community cabinet.

Treasurer Curtis Pitt said it was a restrained budget to responsibly pay down debt.

"But being fiscally responsible doesn't mean we've forgotten the need for economic uplift in this region through direct Government investment, something that was severely lacking in the Federal Budget despite the Turnbull Government holding the seats of Capricornia and Flynn," he said.

"My budget will deliver new road, health and education infrastructure for Central Queensland as well as improved social services and more community grants.

"As a Treasurer from regional Queensland I believe in transparency for our regions, so we have put dollar figures on exactly how much Central Queensland will receive from the health budget, our school maintenance program and estimated how many local jobs will be supported through our local infrastructure improvement program.

Specific projects in the 2016-17 Budget for the Fitzroy region include:

$531.5 million for the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Services

(A $43.5 million increase on the $488 million allocated in 2015-16)

$44.1 million in 2016-17 to upgrade RG Tanna's coal terminal at Port of Gladstone

$22.7 million to expand and improve social housing in the region

$19.1 million for maintenance and capital works on local schools

$15.3 million to rehabilitate and widen the Bruce Highway at Midgee and $14.4 million to widen the Bruce Highway at Bajool

$15 million in 2016-17 to continue Yeppoon foreshore revitalisation

$11.4 million in 2016-17 for the iconic places revitalisation of Rockhampton riverfront

$8.8 million to widen sections of the Burnett Highway from Monto to Biloela

$60 million to deliver a new Calliope State High School

$1.2 million of the $2.2 million project to extend the Rockhampton Firecom station

$3.3 million to construct an overtaking lane on the Capricorn Highway near Duaringa

$2 million in 2016-17 for the $4.5 million Rockhampton Courthouse upgrade project

$1 million 2016-17 to install new mooring infrastructure to facilitate sustainable use of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.